Wire-stretcher.



C, F. HURD.

WIRE STRETCHEE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1909.

1,009,247, Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

TTED %TA.TE% @FFTCE.

CHARLES E. HUB/D, OF KEYSOR, COLORADO.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. Hum), citizen of the United States, residing at Keysor, in the county of Elbert and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in wire stretcher-s, and the object of the invention is an improved device of this character which is designed particularly for use in constructing wire fences or the like, and is applied to a post to stretch the wire taut across the same and to hold the wire against loosening movement, whereby to permit the wire to be conveniently attached to the post.

A still further object of the invention is a wire stretcher which possesses to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity, durability and strength; which is quite light so as to be capable of being easily handled; and which may be easily and cheaply manufactured.

Other objects will more fully appear as the description proceeds.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out in the appended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construc tion, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, illustrating the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and, Fig. at is a perspective view of the frame-like base-member and the guide arm carried thereby, the other parts of the device being omitted.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

My improved wire stretcher includes a frame-like base member which preferably has a triangular formation and consists of side bars 1 and 1 that merge at one end of the frame. The side bars diverge toward the other end of the frame and are connected at such end by a cross bar 1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 15, 1909.

Patented Nov. 231, 15911.. Serial No. 502,235.

that is designed to abut against the front side of a fence post, that is, the opposite side of the post from which the wire is approaching (see Fig. 1). The side member 1 is extended longitudinally beyond the cross bar l so as to lie against the face of the fence post to which the wire is to be attached and to project rearwardly beyond the fence post to constitute a substantially straight supporting arm 2, that co-acts with the cross bar to provide a post-seat. The arm terminates in a loop 4 through which the line wire is passed, in order to support the device in position on the post when tension is applied to the wire, as hereinafter described. For convenience the loop has the form of a split ring so as to be susceptible of being quickly engaged with or disengaged from the line wire. Intermediate of its ends and at a point where it crosses the fence post, the supporting arm is crimped, as indicated at 3, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame-like base member.

A tension arm 5 extends transversely of the frame intermediate of the ends thereof and is preferably bifurcated, as indicated at 6, in order to embrace the side bars. The bifurcations are pivotally connected at their extremities to the side bar 1?, whereby to connect the arm to the frame with its free end projecting laterally beyond the side bar 1 (see Fig. 3). Intermediate of its ends and at a point in proximity to the side bar 1, the arm is formed with an upstanding laterally facing abutment 7 which is preferably formed with an overhanging lip 7 the line wire being drawn, in front of the post, between the lip and the arm. A lever 8 is fulcrumed at an intermediate point on the free end of the arm, one end of the lever projecting beyond the adjacent extremity of the arm and serving as an operating handle. The other end of the lever is arranged upon the relative forward movement of the handle to forcibly hold the line wire against the abutment and to cooperate therewith to positively clamp the wire to the arm 5, the lip 7* maintaining the wire against upward displacement from between the parts.

A. bar 9 extends transversely of the frame intermediate of the arm 5 and the cross bar l and is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured at its ends to the respective side bars. This bar 9 is formed with an upstanding abutment 10 that is disposed substantially in longitudinal. alinement with the abutment 7 and has an overhanging lip 10, the line wire passing in proximity to the abutment 10 before it is engaged by the arm 5. The abutment 10 preferably faces in the opposite lateral direction to the abutment 7, so as to act in conjunction therewith to maintain the line wire against lateral displacement. The line wire is forcibly held against the abutment 10 by a dog 11 that is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on the bolt 12 that fastens the bar 9 to the side bar l the dog and the abutment 1O cooperating to maintain the line wire against loosening movement. The tail-end of the dog is formed with a hook which engages one end of a coil spring 13 that extends forwardly along the side bar 1* and is secured at its forward end to a lug let outstanding therefrom. The spring yieldably holds the dog in an operative position and permits the same to swing forwardly so as not to interfere with the movement of the line wire as it 'is drawn forwardly in the operation of the device.

In practice, when the wire stretcher is applied to a fence post, as illustrated in Fig.

1, the base member is disposed substantially horizontallv in abutting relation to the front of the fence post with the supporting arm 2 projecting rcarwardly therefrom. The line wire is passed through the loop 4- and in proximity to the abutments 7 and 10 and is automatically engaged by the dog so as to be held against loosening movement. The tension arm 5 is swung rearwardly and the handle of the lever 8 is rocked forwardly relative to the arm 5 to obtain a firm grip on the line wire, the continued forward movement of the handle swinging the lever and the arm forwardly as one, and thus effecting the desired stretching of the wire. The lever is then rocked in the reverse direction to release the line wire, and the arm is swung rearwardly to its initial position to permit a new hold on the wire to be obtained. This operation is repeated until the line wire has been stretched taut across the fence post, at which time it is stapled or otherwise suitably attached thereto the crimp 3 preventing the arm 2 from interfering with this attaching operation. Inasmuch as the line wire is held at all times against loosening movement, the device is rendered more convenient in use since the operator is enabled to employ both hands in attaching the wire to the post.

The portion 3 of the extension 2 is distorted out of the line of the major portion of the said extension in a direction transversely to the plane of the head 1 and constitutes a bearing adapted to engage the side of the post and prevent the stretcher from having a tendency to turn when in position upon the post and subjected to strain. The disposition of the portion 3 also aflords ample room for applying a staple to the wire being stretched and for driving the staple so applied into the post.

By reason of the specific arrangement of the parts of the stretcher the structure can be made of comparatively light material and can therefore be easily and quickly handled and transported, while at the same time it is strong and durable and is fully capable of withstanding strains to which it is subjected while in operation.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A wire stretcher consisting of a frame made of a single bar formed with a triangular head and a flagellar form extension provided with a looped extremity, said extension in the vicinity of the head being distorted in a direction transversely of the plane of the head out of the general line of disposition of the major portion of the extension and constituting a post bearing, a bar attached to the opposite sides of the head portion of the frame and lying transversely of the extension thereof, said bar having at one end an abutment, a spring held dog pivoted upon the last mentioned bar and adapted to cooperate with the abutment in holding .a wire, a bifurcated arm pivoted at one end to one side of the head of the frame and receiving the other side thereof within its bifurcation, said arm having an abutment, and a lever fulcrumed upon the arm and adapted to cooperate with the abutment thereon in gripping and stretching a wire.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. HURD. [1,. s.]

WVitnesses:

ORA S. KnYsoR, J. M. LAwRENcE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

